Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, during the public hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Thursday, September 15, 2022. (Albert Calvelo / Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday said some foreign nationals steal the identities of dead persons to obtain ID cards from the Philippine government.
During a Senate hearing on the recent wave of kidnappings and disappearances around the country, Ejercito exposed the identity theft modus operandi and requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to examine the claimed scheme.
An investigation into the uptick in crimes committed by non-citizens has been initiated by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.
“PNP, please take note of that. We will confirm pero alam ko na nangyayari ‘to. Marami nang mga foreign nationals, in particular, mga mainland Chinese na pumasok dito, who are using identities of dead persons so that they can avail of rights and be considered as Filipino citizens,” he said.
(PNP, please take note of that. We will verify, but I already know it’s happening. Many illegal aliens have entered the country, most coming from mainland China. They are using deceased individuals’ names and social security numbers to pass themselves off as Filipino residents and take advantage of the country’s benefits.)
Bureau of Immigration officer in charge Fortunato Manahan Jr. also confirmed Ejercito’s findings but said that they have already deported several foreigners involved in the scheme.
“May mga cases and incidents po kaming naiintercept sa airports and sa community. Napapa deport po namin ang mga ‘yon,” he said.
(We have intercepted cases and incidents at airports and in the community. We can deport those.)
Manahan said foreigners use the identities of dead Filipinos in fraudulent passports, birth certificates, and marriage certificates.
The hearing was conducted amid a rise in the crime rate observed both by the public and public officials involving foreign nationals in the country.
Even the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Monday requested Philippine authorities to intensify efforts to protect its nationals amid a spike in cases of kidnappings that target Chinese nationals.
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